Earth Moving Apparatus and Method

ABSTRACT

An excavator has a moving conveyor with vanes that penetrate the earth and section it. A cutter bar follows the vanes, cuts a section of earth loose and directs it to a lifting throat. The lifting throat, in combination with the conveyor and vanes, lifts the excavated earth into a hopper.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Nos. 60/691,724 filed Jun. 17, 2005; 60/723,485 filed Oct.4, 2005; 60/736,886 filed Nov. 15, 2005; and 60/800,172 filed May 13,2006.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the field of earth moving.

2. Related Art

Excavation and earth moving remain a constant need in all types ofdevelopment. Traditionally, excavating the earth and transporting itwere done by two separate machines. Typically a bulldozer or a backhoewould separate earth from the ground substrate and deposit it in a truckor other transportation. There exists in the industry a need for asingle unit capable of both excavating and transportation to increasespeed, efficiency and economy.

Preexisting equipment capable of both excavating and transportingmaterial, principally road graders, have shortcomings in both theirability to excavate and transport material economically. Additionally,road graders have a simple, single cutter bar to be driven through theearth directly, requiring higher amounts of power. There is a need inthe art for a device capable of skimming or grading a layer of earthmore efficiently and economically.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a vaned conveyor combined with a cutter bar anddeployed to cut or excavate a layer of earth and convey it upwards intoa hopper or truck. In one aspect of the invention, the inventioncomprises a self-loading truck.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an end view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is another partially cutaway side view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an alternate partial cutaway side view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a self-loading truck embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a detailed cutaway side view of a self-loading assembly of theself-loading truck.

FIG. 8 is a partial cutaway side view of an excavating assembly.

FIG. 9 is a cutaway side view of an alternate excavating assembly.

FIG. 10 is a cutaway side view of an alternate excavating assembly.

FIG. 11 is a cutaway side view of an alternate excavating assembly.

FIG. 12 is a detailed side view of an elevation adjustable excavatingassembly.

FIG. 13 is a perspective close up of the elevation adjustable excavatingassembly.

FIG. 14 is a perspective close up of the elevation adjustable excavatingassembly in a different position.

FIG. 15 is a side view of a cleat and fin assembly.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a fin.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an individual cleat.

FIG. 18 is a side view of an individual fin.

FIG. 19 is an end view of an individual fin.

FIG. 20 is a side view of a excavating assembly including sectioningfins.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a releasable throat and sectioning finassembly.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of releasable throat and sectioning finassembly having one released throat section.

FIG. 23 is a front view of an excavating assembly including a guardrail.

FIG. 24 is a side view of an excavating assembly including a guard rail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

Referring now to the figures wherein like reference numbers correspondto like elements, FIG. 1 depicts a first embodiment of the self-loadingexcavator transporter of the present invention. An excavating assembly 2is mounted on a trailer 4 comprising a hopper 6 having a goose neck 8and hitch 10. The trailer 4 and excavating assembly 2 are mounted totransport and ride on a wheel 12. The excavating assembly 2 is driven bya drive device 14 which may be one of a gasoline or diesel engine, anelectric motor or, in the depicted embodiment, a hydrostatic drive. Inthe case of a hydrostatic drive, power may be transferred from an engineof the tractor or other machine hauling the implement of the inventionwith hydraulic hoses.

In FIG. 2 a rear view of the trailing implement incorporating thepresent invention shows the wheels 12 in relation to the hopper 6 andthe excavating assembly 2. The excavating assembly 2 is furthercomprised of side walls 20 between which are maintained sections orpanels 22. The sections or panels may be movable or slideable, as forexample along a groove assembled or fabricated into the inner aspects ofside walls 20. The panels are maintained in a first position withpressure from a maintenance device 24. In the depicted embodiment,maintenance device 24 is a hydraulic cylinder. A hydraulic cylinder isselectively set at a level of pressure corresponding to a desired tripforce. That is, when a first panel of the implement encounters anobstruction in the earth, such as a rock, after a preselected amount offorce is exerted against the obstruction without movement of theobstruction, the preselected trip pressure of the position maintenancedevice 24 is overcome and the device yields. In the case of hydrauliccylinder, the cylinder is compressed. Consequently, the movable panels22 slide away from the obstruction and along the groove in the inneraspect of the side walls 20 into a retracted position along a continuumof potential retracted positions. Thus, the machine passes over theobstruction without damage.

As viewed in FIG. 2, behind the sliding panels 22 and positionmaintenance device 24, is a conveyor 26. The conveyor 26 in the depictedembodiment would be attached to and driven by a drive chain as describedin greater detail below. Attached to the conveyor 26 are a plurality ofvanes 28 which move with conveyor 26 relative to the excavation assembly2 as a whole and section earth for excavation, as described more fullybelow. The drive unit 14 is mounted to a drive wheel which is at anupper aspect of the excavation assembly 2 as depicted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway view of the trailer implement embodimentof the present invention showing a hopper emptying device comprised of amoving wall 30 and a hydraulic cylinder 32 mounted on goose neck 8 anddeployed to advance and retract the moving wall 30 through the hopper 6in order to push out a full load of dirt by advancing and create a spacefor a new load by retracting.

Also depicted in FIG. 3 is an excavator mounting device 40, which in thedepicted embodiment is a hydraulic cylinder. It is pivotably attached tothe hopper at 42 and pivotably attached to the side walls of theexcavating unit 2 at 44. Upon expansion of the hydraulic cylinder 40,the excavating unit rotates away from engagement with the ground aroundpivot 46. Thus, the unit is disengaged and ready for transportation ofthe excavated earth.

FIG. 4 again depicts a cutaway side view of the trailer embodiment ofthe present invention further comprising a thrower 50. As described morefully below, the excavating assembly 2 conveys excavated earth upwardsover the rearmost aspect of the excavating assembly 2 and deposits itover the hopper 4 at an uppermost aspect of the excavating unit 2. Inorder to promote a more even distribution of the excavated earth throughthe hopper, the thrower unit 50 is deployed underneath the deposit vergeof the forward aspect of the excavator assembly 2. In the depictedembodiment, the spreader is a rotating axle, which may further comprisea drum cylinder, having fins mounted radially to the axle. When theexcavated earth falls on the spreader 50 from the upper aspect of theexcavator assembly 2, the spreader spins and throws the descendingportions of earth forward into the hopper.

FIG. 5 depicts an alternative embodiment having a moving floor 60.

FIG. 6 depicts a self-loading truck embodiment of the present invention.In addition to the excavating assembly 102 being mounted on truck 104,FIG. 6 also illustrates use of a thrower 150 and/or a moving floor 160for distributing material excavated through a hopper 106, which isco-extensive with a truck bed. Beneath the chassis of the truck FIG. 6also shows a shear bar 110 and a ripple coulter 112. The shear barserves the purpose of cutting and lifting sectioned material upwardsinto the excavating assembly 102. The ripple coulter disks or sectionsthe earth being excavated as the unit moves forward over it.

FIG. 7 depicts one version of an excavating assembly. After earth to beexcavated is disked and sectioned by ripple coulter 112, it is cut at apre-selected depth by shear bar 110 and guided into a gap 114 between afirst cleated belt 116 and a second cleated belt 118. Each of thecleated belts has a plurality of vanes 120 on it. Each cleated belt isconfigured to rotate in an opposing, complementary fashion such thatexcavated earth will be drawn into an advanced through gap 114 betweenthe two belts. As depicted in FIG. 7, the direction of rotation would becounterclockwise for the upward cleated belt 116 and clockwise for thelower cleated belt 118. Either or both belts may be straight or includean angle 122 as depicted in FIG. 7. The two belts 116 and 118 togetheralso create an exit aperture 124 from which excavated and conveyed earthexits the assembly for loading into the hopper or truck bed 106.Alternatively, distribution of the loaded material can be enhanced withthe use of a rotating spreader or paddle 150.

FIG. 8 depicts a conveyor vane assembly. A plurality of vanes areattached to a conveyor 202. A conveyor is disposed to rotate partiallyaround each of an upper and a lower wheel 212. Either or both of thewheels 212 may be a drive wheel. Either wheel may also be an undrivenreturn wheel. Either or both wheels may be controlled and maintained bytensioning devices. Structural support for the upper aspect of themoving conveyor 202 is provided by a linear upper slide 208 over whichthe conveyor 202 travels. Similarly, a lower slide 211 provides supportfor the flexible conveyor on its underside return path. Slides may besupported by tensioning devices 209, 210.

Disposed to work in close cooperation with the vanes 202 at theirlowermost and deepest penetration into the material is a substantiallyhorizontal cutter blade 204. The cutter blade 204 is positioned andmaintained by a lower support structure 205. The lower support structure205 is also integrally formed or assembled with a lifting throatproviding a surface disposed to work in close cooperation with the outeredge of each of the plurality of vanes. The lower support structure 205extends upwards and rearwards relative to the direction of travel (arrowA). The lower support structure extends above a hopper or truck bed, asdoes the upper and rearward portion of the conveyor vane assembly.Extending the length of the lower support unit and, optionally, above itis a side shield 214. The side shield may be disposed in closecooperation with the sides of the vanes 202.

In operation, the conveyor rotates in a clockwise direction as depictedin FIG. 8 such that each vane in turn as the unit moves forward isbrought into contact with the material being excavated. As rotation ofthe conveyor continues, the vane, driven by the conveyor and supportedby the weight and pressure of the unit above it, cuts into the bottommaterial as indicated at vane 202A. Substantially at a verticalposition, each vane in its lowermost position (202A) presents alaterally sectioned portion of material to the cutting blade 204. Thecutting blade cuts under the section of material. As the conveyorcontinues to rotate, the material is urged upwards and rearwards on thethroat, which is comprised of the lower support structure 205. A leftand right side shield 214 at its lowermost portion 214A cuts the bottommaterial along its side, thus completely separating a section of bottommaterial from the rest of the continuous bottom. The forward motion ofthe dredge and continued rearward clockwise rotation of the conveyor andvanes urges each fully cut and section portion of bottom materialrearwards from the cutting blade and therefrom upwards onto the lowersupport structure and into the lifting throat. As illustrated by thearrows in FIG. 8, continued rotation of the conveyor continuously urgessectioned material upwards and rearwards until it is lifted above ahopper and to a position roughly proximate to the upper rearward wheel212. At that point a discharge chute 215 guides the sectioned materialinto the hopper. It is within the scope of the present invention thatthe structure receiving the sectioned and lifted material may be anysuitable material handling structure including without limitation ahopper, a truck bed, a standing conveyor, a moveable conveyor, a depositand transport assembly configuration.

In a second version of the present invention, a third wheel is used toconfigure the conveyor vane assembly into a wedge, see FIG. 9. Again aplurality of vanes 301 are attached to a conveyor 302 which is supportedby an upper slide in its upper aspect 303. As depicted in FIG. 10, threewheels 307 orient the conveyor 302 such that a portion of it 302A isplaced flat along the bottom surface for a length defined by thedistance between lead wheel 307A and trailing bottom wheel 307B. Anysingle one or any combination of wheels 307 may be a drive wheel. Theconveyor 302 is further supported by an upper slide 303, lower slide 309and back slide 308. The two slides in turn are structurally supported bytension devices 310.

Similar to the previous embodiment, a cutting blade 306 is disposedhorizontally and beneath the surface of the material being excavated inorder to cut and separate sections of material presented to the cutterblade by the advancing conveyor/vane assembly. The cutting blade 306 isbacked by the lower support structure 304 and, as before, flanked by ashield 305 on either side. A discharge chute 315 again is oriented todeposit the cut and lifted sections of bottom material into a receivingstructure.

In operation, as before, the conveyor 302 rotates around the wheels andtranslates between them in a clockwise direction as depicted in FIG. 9so that each of the plurality of vanes 301 in turn cuts into the bottommaterial as it rotates around lead wheel 307A. In this embodiment, asthe excavator and wedge conveyor assembly move forward, each vane,having cut into the bottom material, remains relatively stationary tothe bottom material as the excavator and conveyor wedge moves forwardover it. Upon reaching the lower rear wheel 307B, each vane in turnrotates around it and, again in close cooperation with the lower supportstructure, and sides 304 and side shields 305, which together form thelifting throat, urges a cut and sectioned portion of bottom materialupwards and rearwards along the throat. As before, the upper portion ofthe throat and upper rearward wheel 307C are above the surface of thewater, such that when a section of bottom material reaches a dischargechute 315, it drops into the receiving structure.

FIG. 10 depicts an alternative excavation assembly 1102 that may bemounted on any embodiment. It includes a tensioning roller 1150. Thetensioning roller 1150, together with wheels 1152 deploy the excavationconveyor 1154 in a path that becomes entirely inverted over a hopper ortruck bed, thus facilitating the ejection of excavated material from thevanes 1156 and onto a hopper. The tensioning roller 1150 may be furthermounted either rigidly or on a moveable mount 1160 such as a shockabsorbing, sprung or hydraulically controlled shaft such that tension ofthe conveyor 1154 may also be controlled and/or extraordinary stresseson the conveyor may be absorbed without damage or work interruption.

The embodiment as depicted in FIG. 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 may be mountedotherwise than on a truck or trailer. As such, the chain, belts andother apparatus as disclosed herein as the invention may be applied foruse in a wide variety of applications, including without limitationsthose that are not submerged such as dry land, and loose earth, hardpacked earth, loose rock, gravel, sand, oil sand, waste fills, trash,refuse, quarried products, or other mixed uses that are neither purelydry land nor submerged, such as swamps, bogs, peat, tundra or taiga.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 11 the overall apparatus 500 moves inthe direction indicated by arrow A. The belt, drive chain and vanesrotate clockwise as shown in FIG. 11 or, in the direction indicated byarrow B. Apparatus 500 is comprised of a side panel 501 onto which aremounted drive and idling wheels 502. Any combination of gears 502 may bedrive wheels, but in the depicted embodiment the lower two wheels aredrive wheels. Any drive system may be employed to generate drive,including without limitation engines and motors, but in the depictedembodiment hydrostatic drive is used. In the depicted embodiment, upperwheel 502A is deployed as an idling wheel. Accordingly, tensioningdevice 506 is used for an operator to maintain an optimal tension on thedrive chain/belt/vane assembly.

The drive chain 503 engages with the teeth of the drive gears 502 inorder to rotate the chain. Attached to the chain is belt 505, whichprovides a continuous surface from one side wall 501 to a second sidewall (obscured in the side view of FIG. 12). Belt 505 also provides acontinuous, substantially uninterrupted top surface for a section ofsediment, earth or other material to be lifted as belt 505 proceedsalong a top surface of the earth 512 to be lifted. A plurality of vanes504 are structurally attached to drive chain 503 in the depictedembodiment and along belt 505. Together the drive chain 503, belt 505and vanes 504 comprise a conveyor assembly. This conveyor assembly maybe mounted in a variety of manners without departing from the scope ofthe present invention, including without limitation a truck, trailer,tracked device, amphibious device, a static conveyor, a moveableconveyor, or other earth moving apparatuses.

In operation, as the drive chain 503 and belt 505 rotate clockwise, eachsuccessive vane 504 is driven by the weight of the dredge into thebottom material 512 in the vicinity of leading drive wheel 502. Thisearth or sand material is also being penetrated by the leading edge ofthe substantially vertical side wall 501. As the excavator movesforward, a section of earth is cut by the combination of each successivevane 504 with a first and second side wall 501. Simultaneously, thepressure of at least one vane being driven rearward against the earth orother material 512 drives the excavator forward. In the depictedembodiment, four vanes 504 are fully engaged with the bottom material atall times, providing propulsion.

Thus, the belt 505, sidewalls 501, and vanes 504 cut the earth to belifted into a section having a top (with belt 505) side (at side plates501) front and back (successive vanes 504). The section of material tobe lifted is completed by a substantially horizontal cut into the bottommaterial by cutter bar 510 at level 513. As the excavator advances, asection of material 514 is cut by the cutter bar 510, which cutcomprises the sixth and final side of the section of material to belifted. Immediately behind cutter bar 510 are a plurality of transverseplates 508 which together comprise a lifting throat. After the cutterbar 510 has completed a section, the continuing rotation of thechain/belt/vane assembly lifts each section against the curvilinearcontour of the throat 508 and around the trailing drive wheel 502. Aftera sufficient degree of rotation, gravity holds the section of material514 against the belt as it rises upwards.

In the depicted embodiment, at the upper extent of the drivechain/belt/vane assembly, this assembly is angled such that as it roundswheel 502A, the force of gravity causes each sediment section to fallfrom the assembly into a receiving device such as any of those describedhereinabove, for example a conveyor or hopper.

In order to accommodate travel over possible buried objects, the cutterbar 510 and partitioned throat 508 assembly is designed to retract. Thecutter bar 510 and each transverse section 508 of the throat aredisposed to be held in place by and slide along guide rails 509. Theguide rails are attached to the side walls 501. An upper terminaltransverse throat panel 508 is in contact with the piston of hydraulicarm 507. The pressure exerted by this arm is selectable by an operator,in order to maintain a selected pressure for cutting the material beingworked upon and also for maintaining a selected “break away” pressure atwhich the cutter bar and panels will retract when brought into contactwith a buried object such as a large rock, tree, debris or otherwise.When encountering such an obstruction, the transverse panels of thethroat 508 and cutter bar retract upwards and rearwards along the guidetracks 509 and are retained therein until such time as the obstacle hasbeen traveled over by the excavator 500. At that time, the pressure ofthe hydraulic arm 507 acts to return the throat downwards and forwardsrepositioning the throat and also the cutter bar 510 in reestablishingcutting engagement with the bottom material.

In FIG. 12, additional details of the excavator are shown. Conveyorassembly 401 is comprised of a cleated belt 430. Rollers 432 andconveyor frame components 443 support the conveyor. One or more of toproller 432 a, bottom front roller 432 b or bottom back roller 432 c maybe powered for driving the conveyor. In the depicted embodiment, thepreferred direction of travel is to the left of FIGS. 12-14. Theconveyor would rotate counterclockwise in FIGS. 12-14. In the depictedembodiment, the movement of the conveyor and the engagement of itscleats or vanes with the bottom material provides drive to the entireexcavating apparatus. Depth control is by cleat length.

Efficient operation of the excavator is optimized if engagement surface411 remains level, or at least substantially parallel with the slope orgrade of the top surface of the bottom material of the body of water.Operating problems will include maintaining this flat engagement ofbottom engagement surface 411 with the bottom material when the angle ofthe earth changes. Another problem is meeting and overcoming withoutdamage, delay, or unnecessary failure to dredge a portion of the bottomwhen an obstruction is met. In the depicted embodiment, adjustabletensioners provide for flexible and user selectable adjustment of theangle and position of the overall excavator 401 and conveyor in order tomeet these and overcome these operational problems.

In the depicted embodiment, at least one of formed portions 433 aremounted such that they can move relative to the earth and/or to thechassis on which they are mounted. In particular, front member 433 a maybe pivoted, substantially around pivot point 412 to extend forward ofthe rest of the overall excavator assembly 401 or towards the front ofthe unit by extension of telescoping arm 450. Likewise, front bottomroller 432 b may be extended or retracted through the use of telescopingarm 437 on which it is mounted. Telescoping arms 437 may be furthermounted on a pivot point 452 in order to accommodate a change anglebetween bottom engaging surface 411 and front frame member 433 a and theconveyor riding on it. Alternatively or additionally, additionaladjustments in depth, elevation of the bottom engaging surface or theangled relationship between back frame member 433 b, the conveyor ridingon it and bottom engaging surface 411 may be made by extending orretracting rear bottom roller 432 c through the use of telescoping arm438. In the depicted embodiment, telescoping arm 438 is mounted at abottom end of rear support frame element 433 b and extends or retractssubstantially parallel to the long dimension of rear frame element 433b.

FIG. 13 depicts the overall assembly of the excavator 401 and thecleated conveyor engaging a bottom surface in a first position. In thisposition the difference between front bottom roller 432 b and the rearframe portion 433 b with the conveyor riding on it is relatively narrowthrough dimension C (telescoping adjustment arms have been omitted fromFIGS. 13 and 14 for clarity and illustrating the variability of theposition of the components). In FIG. 14, dimension C has been expanded,by extending telescoping arm 437 (again omitted from FIG. 14 forclarity). It is anticipated that in the position shown in FIG. 13, theentire excavator assembly 401 can further be adjusted rearwardlyrelative to the hull by allowing for such pivoting, as for example atschematically depicted mount 460, which would essentially pivot aroundthe axis of top roller 432 a. Accordingly, it is anticipated that arearward pivoting of the overall assembly 401 and narrowing of dimensionC would allow optimized contact with the bottom of bottom engagingportion 411 in a shallower depth. For a deeper depth, the componentswould be adjusted more as depicted in FIG. 14. That is, the overallassembly 401 would be rotated in direction D and dimension C would beexpanded. Accordingly, bottom engaging portion 411 would continue tomaintain substantially full contact with the surface of the earth,allowing for efficient excavating of it.

Cleat and Fin Combination

A novel cleat and fin arrangement is disclosed in FIGS. 15 through 19.For some applications a broad belt segmenting broad rectangles of earthfor raising may be divided into subsections transverse to the belt. Itis also advantageous to bolster the strength of transverse vanes orcleats. Accordingly, in FIGS. 15-19 a combination of interacting cleatsand fins are disclosed. As previously described, a chain 806 rotatesaround the drive wheels and carries with it a belt 804. On top of thebelt are cleats 802 which serve the same function vanes depicted inprevious embodiments of sectioning mud or sediment to be lifted. Eachcleat 802 has a foot 803 which attaches to the belt 804 and/or chain 806underneath it. Interacting and/or with each cleat 802 is a fin 808. Thefin 808 is aligned longitudinally with the belt 804 and chain 806 asdepicted in FIG. 18. Each vane is comprised of a side 820 which islongitudinally aligned and an angled base comprised of a fin foot 812and a fin lead face 810. As depicted in FIG. 16, a perspective view, thefin base 806 is transverse to the belt 804 and is mounted on it. The finface plate 810 is disclosed to abut an adjacent cleat 802 when the belt804 is flat. In the depicted embodiment, each fin 808 further has anotch 816 in its leading edge and a extension 818 in its tailing edge.The notch of each fin aligns and closely cooperates with the extensionof the next adjacent fin.

As can be seen in FIG. 17, a perspective view and FIG. 19, an end view,each cleat or vane has a vertical member 802 which serves to section themud as described above. Each cleat or vane also has a foot 803 formounting onto the belt 804. Each cleat also has a notch 822 dimensionedand positioned to interact with the extension 818 of each fin. Thesecomponents interact and combine to provide strength to the cleats asthey section mud or earth. They also divide sections of mud into smallervolumes for ease of cutting and lifting. The notch and extensionarrangement for interaction between each cleat and the adjacent finpromotes unloading of earth as each cleat and fin rounds the upperwheel.

FIGS. 20 through 22 depicts a wedge conveyor, and excavator employingthe cleat and fin assembly. As depicted in FIG. 20, the belt rotatescounterclockwise for a direction of travel for the overall excavator tothe left in FIG. 20. Each fin trailing edge rotates away from the beltat each rotation of the belt around a wheel. At a top wheel 830 thisrotation promotes the ejection of a section of earth from the belt. On abottom contact plane 832 the fins may advantageously exceed the cleatsin depth. This will promote the contacting and driving away from thebelt and other operational components of the excavator any buriedobstructions. The fins 802 further provide reinforcement to keep loadingforces from pulling the cleats backward or out of vertical with the beltand thereby warping the belt and/or drive chains away from the drivewheels and sprockets.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an assembly including support fins 802.In the depicted embodiment, the support fins subdivide a transversesection between cleats 802 into four sections. The outermost sectionedges are defined by the sidewalls 834 of the dredge. As fins 808 rotatearound trailing wheel 836 they advance between the adjacent edges of anassembly of adjacent trip bottom throats 838. This construction furtherallows the fins 808 to be a greater depth than the cleats 802 in orderto provide protection from submerged and buried objects. Each adjacentthroat section 838 is mounted to a side wall 834 of the excavator atpivoting mount 844 and to a frame portion 840 with mounting rods 842.Each throat section 838 is configured to release or “trip” in the eventthat its leading edge, which is the cutting edge 846, hits a buriedobstacle. Each throat section 838 is biased into its down and engagedcutting position for normal operation and maintained there at apreconfigured pressure. In the depicted embodiment, hydraulic rams 848apply this pressure. The pressure is preconfigured to be overcome whenit exceeds a threshold and that threshold is anticipated to be set atthe degree of resistance corresponding to the cutting edge 846 meetingburied obstruction that would otherwise break the throat component 838.

FIG. 22, another perspective view of the sectioned assembly with finsdepicts one of the throat sections 838 in its released or trippedposition, which allows a buried obstruction to pass.

Depicted in FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 are a guard rail 1002. In a depictedembodiment it is centered underneath the conveyor and its vanes. Theguard rail 1002 descends into the earth or other material to a depth(C). This depth is deeper than a depth (D) at which side rails 1004operate. The depth of vanes 1006, attached as before to a drive chainand/or belt (obscured) may alternately penetrate to a depth of the sideplates 1004, or be more shallow than the side plates 1004. In any event,any depth of vane penetration or side wall penetration shallower than apenetration depth of the guard rail 1002 is within the scope of thepresent invention.

In FIG. 24, a side view of the guard rail is shown 1002 including amount assembly 1008 attaching the guard rail 1002 to the side rails.Otherwise, the excavation conveyor operates as previously described,with conveyor 1010 conveying vanes 1006 around wheels 1014 to sectionand lift earth.

The guard rail 1002 may be disposed to present only an edge to thedirection of travel, thereby minimally impeding forward progress and thepower needed to attain it. The leading edge of guard rail 1002 mayoptionally extend ahead of the leading edge of the side walls 1004, witha direction of travel being in either direction. In operation, buriedobstructions contact the leading edge of the guard rail 1002 and, as theexcavator moves forward, the guard rail and dredge rise and/or theobstruction sinks, thereby allowing the excavator assembly to travelover the obstruction.

As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, asdescribed above with reference to the corresponding illustrations,without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather thanlimiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention shouldnot be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, butshould be defined only in accordance with the following claims appendedhereto and their equivalents.

1. An excavation apparatus comprising: a chassis; a plurality of vanes;said vanes being mounted on a conveyor, said conveyor having a drivesystem, said conveyor being mounted on said chassis such that each ofsaid vanes penetrates a surface of ground to be excavated; in sequence;said vanes being transverse to a direction of travel of said chassis; acutter, said cutter being mounted on said chassis, transverse to saiddirection of travel and substantially parallel with a plane of thesurface of ground and selectively disposed to cut at or below saidsurface of ground to be excavated; and a lifting element, said liftingelement being disposed to lift excavated material in close cooperationwith said conveyor into a receptacle.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said vanes provide drive of said chassis in said direction oftravel.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receptacle is mountedon said chassis.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said penetration ofsaid vanes is forward of said cutter along said direction of travel. 5.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cutter is a leading portion ofsaid lift element.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising aguard rail attached to said chassis.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising an angle adjustment apparatus engaged with said conveyor. 8.The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a breakaway clam shelladapted to move away from obstructions, said clam shell being attachedto said chassis and disposed to follow said cutter.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 1 further comprising side panels, said side panels being attachedto said chassis and disposed in relation to said vanes so as to cut aside of a segment of material being excavated.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said conveyor is mounted on at least two wheels, atleast one of said wheels being a drive wheel.
 11. The apparatus of claim1 further comprising a third wheel, said conveyor and said wheels beingconfigured such that a portion of said conveyor is maintainedsubstantially flat against the ground being excavated between two ofsaid three wheels.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said excavationapparatus is self-propelled.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein afirst vane cuts a first edge of a section of material being excavated, anext vane cuts a second edge of a section of material being excavated, afirst side panel cuts a third side, a second side panel cuts a secondside and said cutter cuts a bottom of a segment of material beingexcavated.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said angle adjustmentapparatus is a pivotal mount of said conveyor on said chassis andfurther comprising an actuator having a linkage to said chassis and anoperative engagement with said conveyor such that said conveyor mayselectively be rotated around said pivotal mount.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said vanes include a portion fixedly attached to saidconveyor assembly and said vanes include an extending portion unattachedto said conveyor assembly, said extending portion being constructed andarranged to separate from said conveyor assembly as said conveyorassembly turns around one of said drive wheels or a support wheel. 16.The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a lifting assembly, saidlifting assembly being attached to said cutter bar and said liftingassembly being mounted at a trailing edge of a portion of said conveyorassembly in contact with the material being lifted and said liftingassembly being configured to deposit lifted material onto a portion ofsaid conveyor assembly facing upwards, such that continuing forwardmotion of the conveyor assembly advances said lifted segments ofmaterial upwards on the conveyor assembly.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said cutter and said lifting assembly are pivotally mounted onsaid conveyor assembly such that contact of said cutter with anobstruction causes the cutter and lifting assembly to rotate away fromthe obstruction.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vanespenetrate the bottom material at least as deep as said cutter bar. 19.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is a self loading truck.20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is a dredge.